Bonjour à tous! I grew up in Geneva/Switzerland, a French speaking city by the lake and surrounded by mountains. This is where my roots and family are but I was born with a globe-trotter’s heart and from a very young age I have always loved traveling.

I worked as a secretary for multi-national companies and travelled all around Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. Then, my passion for arts and cinema led me to Belgium where I passed the entrance exams of the Insas film school in Brussels. First script supervisor on fictions, I later specialized in film editing. Back to Switzerland, starting my family, I joined the Swiss public television where I edited multiple documentaries on a wide range of topics, from artists’ portraits to very specific scientific subjects.

Always on the lookout for fresh experience, as a family we decided to leave Switzerland first for French Polynesia and then New Zealand where my husband got offered a job. We arrived in Auckland in July 2019 with our teenage son and though we are kind of missing the real cold Swiss winters and the raclette, we are really enjoying our kiwi life. I am exploring new interests through volunteering (enrichment programs at the Auckland Zoo and bio-dynamic’s growing techniques) and I am now thrilled to join Tui Tuia | Learning Circle - Languages, as Programme Coordinator where I am ready to use my admin, languages and editing skills. Et si vous désirez avoir une petite conversation en français, venez donc me dire bonjour. Je me réjouis de faire votre connaissance!

Written by Valerie Weyer Luzzi, Programme Coordinator - Tui Tuia | Learning Circle

Photos (Left): Valerie in Auckland, with Sky Tower in the background, (Right): Valerie in the winter snow.